I'm also interested in getting a sense of the fan reaction to the Austin hiring (though the blog comments and my Twitter feed have helped in this regard) so there's a online poll at the bottom of Milty's column. I'll publish the results tomorrow.

By Steve Milton

His team hasn’t played a game yet and
already Kent Austin is proving his worth to a franchise whose apple
really needs some polishing.

We have to assume, even though he’s
helmed a professional team for just one of the many seasons he’s
been involved in elite football, that Austin can successfully coach
professional players. He’s one-for-one in Grey Cups per seasons
coached and two of his former, and now current players, Andy Fantuz
and Luca Congi, say he’s the kind of coach who makes it fun to come
to work and who corrects a player’s mistakes in a manner that the
player truly wants to get better.

Coaches coach but Austin, as Tiger-Cats
coach, general manager and vice-president, will have to do doing a
lot more than that around here. And, on Monday afternoon, he
demonstrated he’s up to what the Cats will need off the field from
their triple-portfolio man during what will be probably the two most
pivotal seasons in franchise history.

He was expansive, thoughtful, generous
with his time, friendly, warm and, at times, a little coy.

But most of all he was A Presence. A
Big Presence.

And that’s among the first things
Fantuz mentioned Monday. He recalled the immediate swagger that
Austin brought to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2007, their last
Grey Cup championship year. And, like most coaches, and just about
every quarterback, he oozes confidence, sending out the vibes that
things will be all right no matter how bleak they may seem.

That presence and confidence are
imperative for the “face” of the franchise, which Austin
immediately becomes.

With Henry Burris nearing 40 and
entering his second season as Ticat quarterback, the gregarious
captain Marwan Hage out of the lineup a lot of late and Bob Young and
Scott Mitchell still wearing the flotsam of both the stadium
schmozzle and the George Cortez misstep, the Cats were heading into
the disruptions of a year of Guelph and another year of adjusting the
entire operation to a new stadium without a “face” the
ticket-buying public could warm to.

They have one now, even if it is a face
that helped coach the Toronto Argonauts to a Grey Cup and that
quarterbacked the defeated Cats’ opposition in the Greatest Game
Ever Played, the 1989 Grey Cup.

While Cortez was cut loose, and ergo
Austin hired, as much because of the GM and “public face”
functions as because of coaching, Austin’s GM-ing will have to
shift to the back burner for a while.

The more pressing needs are under his
coaching hat. He’s got a good trio of emerging personnel department
types in Shawn Burke, Drew Allemang and Danny McManus and hinted
Monday he might call upon his good friend Eric Tillman for some help,
or at least advice, in that area.

But given his managerial philosophy —
that scouts and GMs should seek out the skill-specific players
coaches require — he needs to get his coaches in place before
zeroing in on talent assessment and college scouting. Plus, other
teams are in the search to fill out their staffs and he’s got to
beat the Christmas rush.

“As quickly as possible,” he said.
“But, at the same time, I want the right guys and the right blend
of guys. I certainly want different personalities and ages. I want
different coaching styles, as well. It’s not good to have a
homogenous approach, in my opinion.”

Austin wants diversification not only
within the overall staff, but within the individual coaches
themselves. He says he considers CFL exposure important, but added
that experience in coaching different segments of a team and at a
variety of levels probably matter more to him than coaching one
limited area over a CFL career.

Austin will be quarterbacks coach —
he believes in developing all three roster pivots to game-ready
status — but hasn’t decided whether he will also be the offensive
co-ordinator.

Among the currently available
co-ordinators with good CFL resumés are Paul LaPolice (offence) and
former Ticat defensive boss Greg Marshall. But Argos special-teams
co-ordinator Mike O’Shea and defensive backs coach Orlondo
Steinauer, both ex-Ticats, are poised to move up the CFL coaching
ranks, and both played for the Argos when Austin was on the coaching
staff.

And don’t forget about Tommy Condell
and Kim Dameron from his Cornell staff. The former was Austin’s
assistant head coach at Cornell and did a turn as offensive
co-ordinator in Saskatchewan while Dameron, Cornell’s defensive
co-ordinator, was also with Austin at Ole Miss and worked for the
Argonauts a dozen years ago.

Austin says he also wants to talk to
the coaches on Cortez’s staff, to assess their styles and
personalities.

With his obvious charisma and a great
track record in the CFL, as well as coming into what career coaches
regard as the optimal fresh situation — a team, with money, that
has achieved well below its perceived talent level — Austin
shouldn’t have any trouble attracting quality coaching support.

But that’s only part of his job(s),
albeit the one needing the most immediate attention. The largest part
— and you could argue that ultimately it’s the only part that
matters — is to win and cast this very large monkey off the
franchise’s back.

There is also the marketplace function,
a soothing of Ticat Nation’s feathers, ruffled so often and so
publicly over the past couple of years. One day in town, and Austin’s
already got a leg up on that, buying back a lot of the goodwill that
had been lost or was about to be.

And, while goodwill doesn’t win you
football games, it doesn’t lose them either. And it certainly does
not lose you fans. Lots were won back on Monday.

Comments

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@ TFMCB - If you haven't heard much about KA, then I'm guessing you missed the 1989 GC, where KA quarterbacked the 9-9 Riders to a last minute field goal to win over the 12-6 TigerCats.

I can recall thinking that Mike Kerrigan & Tony Champion had left too much time on the clock when they tied the game. Of course, if Wally Zatilney (sp?) had caught the pass on the hot route when Hamilton was dominating, I think it would have broken the Rider hearts & turned into a blow out.

IAC, yes - because others have done it, it can't be assumed.

On the other side, since KA was the HC that coached the 9-9 Riders (three years running) to 12-6 as well as GC champs, one would think he's familiar with what's required on the HC front.

And the "Preview" button has prevented errors many times but the pesky things keep sliding through regardless. *grin*

I like the fact that KA will consult Eric Tillman (whom I thought would be on TC shortlist for GM)
For Christmas I would like to see coaching staff shored up. Marshall or Reinebold as DC,Let KA n Burris run the offence Keep Daly on ST or bring in O'Shea. Steinhaur sounds good for the DB's and keep Ozzie for the kickers, and lastly get Mike McCarthy back in the scouting dept..

I like the fact that KA will consult Eric Tillman (whom I thought would be on TC shortlist for GM)
For Christmas I would like to see coaching staff shored up. Marshall or Reinebold as DC,Let KA n Burris run the offence Keep Daly on ST or bring in O'Shea. Steinhaur sounds good for the DB's and keep Ozzie for the kickers, and lastly get Mike McCarthy back in the scouting dept..

Wait and see. Austin certainly has camera presence -- something important to Young and Mitchell going forward. Funny how that didn't matter when they hired Cortez. If Austin hires capable guys as OC and DC, and gets some help in the front office, he'll be fine. It's a big IF -- there are guys out there, and I think , a sense of urgency to get a solid coaching staff in order.

I think this is another positive step forward. But as we saw last year. Choosing the RIGHT DC and staff is an incredibly important step to building a team. Who he can hire within the next month or so is absolutely vital

I think that Noodles or Snake would make great GM candidates. At least they would not let the marketing department run the show and they both have a sense of humour unlike poor George or any of the Ticat staff.

I too will take a wait and see approach since I don't really know much about Austin aside from what I have heard recently. He seems to have the right words and approach but actions still speak louder than words so I'll reserve my enthusiasm until we see what staff/players he maintains and hires. Lack of GM experience could be a hindrance unless Obie does stay around to act in a consulting role, allowing KA to grow into the role. Just because other coaches have successfully combined the positions we can't automatically assume that Austin will do likewise - everyone is different.

@GoCats - There is a preview button to hit so you can check and edit your comment before posting it.

To add to Josh's details about Wally Buono & John Hufnagel as combined HC & GM for Elizabeth Luce's benefit - here's a few more details.

After becoming HC & GM in 2003, Wally's record between 2003 through 2011, when he gave up the HC part, is 5 of 9 nine years - first place in the West division. Three Grey Cup appearances, with two wins.

For John, over five years - there's two first place and two second place finishes in the West division. Two GC appearances with one win.

Then there's Cal Murphy in Winnipeg as HC/GM with 8 years, 2 first place, 2 seconds and two GC with one GC win.

So there have been a few over the years. I can't find an easy source to find more.

IAC, the big thing is whether KA surrounds himself with good people & let's them take care of the workload. So far (not that it means much), he sounds like he will do this.

I don't get the comments about Austin having no GM experience. How does one gain GM experience without, you know, being a GM? Austin might prove to be ineffective (or terrible) at that job, but no one will know until he actually does it.

This is a terrible move. It is one thing to try out a rookie coach, but to give the GM job to a guy with no personnel experience? This is like hiring Snake or Noodles or another commenter to be the coach.

Belichick isn't the only successful man to have multiple roles (and don't forget that all of Belichick's success came with Scott Pioli as his VP of football ops). Andy Reid and Mike Holmgren have both had success being the coach and GM. Bil Parcells said it best: "If you're asking me to cook the dinner, you have to let me buy the groceries." In the CFL, Hufnagel and Buono (until last year) were both head coach and GM, and they both won Grey Cups. But Austin will succeed or fail on his merits, not because those in the past did or didn't.

But like many (maybe even most or all), I'm taking a wait-and-see approach. I hope for huge success, but I'm not expecting it. I'm going to see what the team does with coordinators and player moves before I get too excited.

I'm a recent convert to the CFL so I don't know anything about Kent Austin however I do know that the NFL's track record with coaches who double as front office personnel has been gawdawful. (Bill Belichick being the exception with the NE Patrtiots and I haven't heard anyone compare Austin to Belichick this week). If Austin had solid experience in any one of his three new positions I'd still be twitchy but to expect a man who has a wife and a young family to take on three demanding full time jobs and be successful -- count me in the dubious, skeptical and disbelieving camp.

Wait and see based on the last 10 years of gaffles by this organization in the front office. I am also now for the most part a quiet Ticat fan. I look forward to the days I can be a proud vocal one again.

Certainly KA benefitted from the players in place & KG having his arm broken in the Eastern Final against the Argos.

The flip side of the coin is that Sask was 9-9 in 2004, 2005 & 2006, before KA took over. Then too - the 12-6-0 Riders had to beat the 14-3-1 to make the GC (final score 26 to 17).

So I'm all for being cautiously optimistic as his past experience is limited. I am also keeping in mind that compared to most recent Hamilton HC's, he has relevant experience in turning around a team, in addition to the CFL in general.

Wait and see. But then that's no different than most of the past 20+ years - just that in some years I've been more confident or hopeful than others.

Only TWICE during that span I've felt really good about a coming season: in 1999, after a close Grey Cup loss in 1998; and in 2000, after the last Grey Cup victory. In one case my dreams were realized, in the other they were dashed.

Austin has said all the right things and I agree with his philosophy about the two most important statistics in football (we certainly saw how much they are, in a negative way). He is also respected around the league, by players and coaches/management (though his predecessor was too)

I doubt we'll see a complete turnover in staff, especially on the management side. But his most critical decisions over the next couple of months will be hiring a defensive coordinator who knows how to get the most out of players and put them in positions to excel, and finding 2 or maybe 3 free agents for that DC to work with. If he can do that, it will instill a bit more confidence in me, but I'll still be waiting to see.

Strictly from a confidence perspective, I really like the move. I really wanted to press the "wait and see" button but then I realized that mood was something created by admin types like Scott Mitchell. Drew, you needed a second question ont he survey: Does this offset recent gaffes caused off-field by the Ticat organization? To that, I would certainly have pressed "No".

Wait and see. I've been dissapointed by this team every year no matter what signings they've made. Austin has only 1 year of HC esperience, was that a 1 hit wonder year?
The Cats will have to do a lot more than hire a GM/HC to make up for the lack of respect with the whole tier 1/2 fiasco.

Complete wait and see approach. Honestly, I don't see too much different between him and Cortez; offensive minded with limited HC and GM experience. His HC claim to fame was defeating a Dinwiddie lead Bombers by 4 points.

That is not to say he is not a better fit but I'm not sure you can really point to anythign specific at this point that suggests he is.

Wally Buono would have been the only guy that could have sold me right away.